August 01 / 13.48 Ayr

13.48

Good

Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap

  • Prize money: £3456
  • 1m 2f 0y
  • Class 6
  • 9 runners
RTV
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Ayrshire Cancer Support Handicap

Runners: 9 runners

Type: Flat Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Light rain

OUR TIP

4/1 (Won)

  • Win: £3.50
  • Place: £1.40

Form: 69-843 C

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 11lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 57

Form & Verdict
Better with each run this year and is 3lb below his last winning mark; has tended to be reliable in the past when striking form and the return to 1m2f will suit, so he goes on the shortlist.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

9th

9

(2)

30th May 2026

Good To Firm

0m 7f 173y

Class 4

17:28 Carlisle

Ayr Poet

9st 3lb

J: Lauren Young

T: Jim Goldie

All 13 wins have come elsewhere but he does have course form and he did so well when going close at Ayr (1m1f, good to firm) last week; however, he's now 6lb higher than his September win which might be a step too far.

9/2

2nd

9

(6)

20th May 2026

Good To Firm

1m 1f 20y

Class 4

14:42 Ayr

Ayr Poet

8st 12lb

J: Amie Waugh

T: Jim Goldie

Rounded off last season with a game win here (1m Class 5, good to soft; from 4lb lower), that his 13th win; struggled in a competitive Sunday Series Handicap at Musselburgh 24 days ago, and it might be a similar story here; stablemate of Pearl Eye and Motawaared.

40/1

12th

8

(12)

26th Apr 2026

Good

1m 0f 2y

Class 4

15:45 Musselburgh

Ayr Poet

9st 6lb

J: Shay Farmer

T: Jim Goldie

11yo who was as good as ever last season, winning three times, including at Ayr in September when last season; this two-time course winner is not ruled out on his return but there's a suspicion he'll improve for the run.

16/1

8/1

  • Place: £1.90

Form: -82565

Last run: 18 days

W: 10st 2lb

5 yo Gelding

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Longstanding maiden who again didn't look the easiest on his debut for this yard 18 days ago; the handicapper has eased off quickly, though, and the return to 1m2f could help switched from cheekpieces to first-time blinkers.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

7

4th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

1m 7f 156y

Class 4

14:10 Catterick

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Joshua Thompson

T: David Thompson

8-59, although his last win came in a two-runner affair at Carlisle (2m1f; 2-5 favourite; all out) in December 2023; latest Carlisle sixth (beaten 15l; 50-1) not overly inspiring; others more obvious.

10/1

6th

7

16th Feb 2026

Good To Soft

2m 1f 0y

Class 4

15:40 Carlisle

Russian Virtue

11st 7lb

J: Theo Gillard

T: David Thompson

Has won six times over hurdles, the latest a two-runner affair over C&D (good to soft) in December 2023; a couple of fair runs for this yard last year but pulled up when last seen out in January (reportedly never travelling); others appeal more.

20/1

4

25th Jan 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 178y

Class 4

15:10 Sedgefield

Russian Virtue

11st 5lb

J: Nathan Moscrop

T: David Thompson

On a long losing spell and form figures of 246 this term reflect that a turnaround of sorts is required; admittedly appears well treated if that resurgence materialises, being 7lb below last winning mark.

16/1

12/1

  • Place: £2.10

Form: 40-67

Last run: 28 days

W: 9st 8lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 62

Form & Verdict
Well held in three Irish maidens for Joseph O'Brien and was easy to back ahead of her C&D debut for her new yard early in July, when behind Granite City Doc; is worth tracking in the market down 3lb.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

7

(2)

4th May 2023

Soft

0m 7f 219y

Class 6

14:55 Redcar

Give Grace

8st 13lb

J: Paul Hanagan

T: Iain Jardine

Modest maiden who has yet to fire in two runs this season, beating only one on each occasion at Newcastle and Catterick; this big drop in trip needs to yield major improvement.

7/1

10th

8

(4)

12th Apr 2023

Soft

1m 4f 13y

Class 6

16:48 Catterick

Give Grace

9st 1lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

A couple of fair runs over 1m2f last season, on second occasion finishing runner-up in a Redcar seller (heavy); can pull hard so not sure to be suited by step up to 1m4f.

12/1

8th

3

(8)

24th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:15 Newcastle (AW)

Give Grace

9st 8lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Iain Jardine

Yet to win but she ran a couple of good races for this yard last season, finishing second of six in a heavy-ground seller at Redcar when last seen; 2lb higher for her return and she wasn't at her best in one run on Tapeta.

10/1

Form: 8-7033 D

Last run: 18 days

W: 9st 13lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 59

Form & Verdict
Best at Hamilton and, while he's won on fast ground, there's little doubt he could use some rain; had done better of late, having missed a year, but was last of nine at Hamilton on Saturday.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

10th

6

(6)

31st Aug 2022

Soft

1m 1f 35y

Class 6

19:55 Hamilton

Granite City Doc

9st 6lb

J: Jason Hart

T: R Mike Smith

prominent, ridden over 2f out, soon weakened

14/1

4th

2

(2)

1st Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

13:48 Ayr

Granite City Doc

9st 13lb

J: Harry Russell

T: R Mike Smith

slowly into stride, pushed along briefly soon after start, towards rear, headway into midfield after 2f, pushed along and headway against far rail over 2f out, went fourth over 1f out, short of room and switched right inside final 110yds, kept on (jockey said gelding was denied a clear run inside the final furlong)

10/1

9th

1

(5)

30th Jul 2022

Good

1m 3f 15y

Class 6

20:30 Hamilton

Granite City Doc

10st 0lb

J: Paula Muir

T: R Mike Smith

slowly away, took keen hold, towards rear, pushed along and headway over 2f out, soon ridden, weakened over 1f out

7/1

Form: 800-5

Last run: 32 days

W: 9st 7lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 61

Form & Verdict
Gelded after three ordinary AW novice efforts last backend over 7f and was prominent in the market for his comeback at Yarmouth (1m2f, good to firm) where he hit traffic at a key stage; remains open to improvement.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

6th

9

(6)

22nd Oct 2022

Standard

1m 6f 0y

Class 6

19:30 Chelmsford (AW)

City Of Life

9st 1lb

J: Rhys Clutterbuck

T: James Ferguson

midfield, lost position and towards rear over 7f out, pushed along and raced wide from over 2f out, ridden over 1f out, stayed on but no impression inside final furlong

8/1

4th

3

(11)

20th Sep 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

17:25 Newcastle (AW)

City Of Life

9st 11lb

J: Luke Morris

T: James Ferguson

raced in second, ridden and lost second over 2f out, soon edged left, held final 110yds

8/1

9th

5

(3)

3rd Sep 2022

Standard

1m 4f 51y

Class 6

20:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

City Of Life

9st 6lb

J: Theodore Ladd

T: James Ferguson

towards rear of midfield, pushed along 5f out, ridden over 3f out, dropped to rear and well held when short of room and hampered over 1f out

7/2

Form: 446

Last run: 39 days

W: 8st 10lb

3 yo Filly

OR: 50

Form & Verdict
Sister to a 1m6f Listed winner in France but looks of little account herself, having been beaten a long way in three runs to date; starts handicap life off a basement mark but can't have a case made for her as yet.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

2

(6)

18th Mar 2023

Standard

1m 1f 104y

Class 6

18:00 Wolverhampton (AW)

Birdie Putt

9st 2lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Nigel Hawke

Limited promise for the Johnstons last year; two hurdle runs for new yard saw her unseat her rider at the first and the third; tailed off back on the Flat in January; no appeal.

66/1

8th

8

(5)

17th Jan 2023

Standard To Slow

1m 3f 219y

Class 6

14:40 Kempton (AW)

Birdie Putt

9st 2lb

J: Connor Murtagh

T: Nigel Hawke

Minor Flat form for the Johnstons in 2022 and has unseated early in two hurdles for this yard; needs plenty more on AW debut.

33/1

10

9th Jan 2023

Soft

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

13:55 Taunton

Birdie Putt

10st 2lb

J: Tom Buckley

T: Nigel Hawke

0-5 on Flat for the Johnston yard, showing only minor form; unseated rider early at Doncaster on the switch to hurdles; best watched.

100/1

100/1

Form: 84-978

Last run: 14 days

W: 8st 6lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 45

Form & Verdict
Well beaten so far and slim chance now going beyond 7f for the first time.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

11

(6)

28th Sep 2022

Standard To Slow

1m 2f 42y

Class 6

18:15 Newcastle (AW)

Pasha Bay

9st 0lb

J: Andrew Mullen

T: Linda Perratt

took keen hold, midfield, steady headway when switched to near side over 3f out, ridden over 2f out, hung left and weakened over 1f out

33/1

7th

11

(4)

18th Sep 2022

Soft

1m 3f 15y

Class 5

16:30 Hamilton

Pasha Bay

8st 4lb

J: James Sullivan

T: Linda Perratt

took keen hold, towards rear, pushed along and some headway from over 3f out, switched left and ridden from over 2f out, weakened from over 1f out

50/1

8th
7 (4)
Nazca

50/1

Form: -50807

Last run: 35 days

W: 8st 12lb

3 yo Gelding

OR: 52

Form & Verdict
Four poor efforts for this yard and the cheekpieces come off again; has plenty to prove.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

8th

9

(7)

20th Apr 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

17:30 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

9st 0lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Linda Perratt

Three of his six wins have been over C&D but last one was back in March 2024; has been out of sorts on his last two starts.

20/1

6th

10

(4)

21st Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:30 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

8st 9lb

J: Oliver Carmichael

T: Linda Perratt

Runner-up in a classified event over C&D last month but he's hard to predict and was last of eight in a handicap here two weeks ago; finished behind three of today's rivals in that race and that took his losing run up to 18; others preferred.

12/1

8th

8

(5)

6th Mar 2026

Standard

0m 6f 0y

Class 6

20:00 Newcastle (AW)

Nazca

8st 10lb

J: Mason Paetel

T: Linda Perratt

His handicap mark has bottomed out and there have been more encouraging signs on his last two starts, second in a 0-50 classified over C&D 15 days ago; more required today.

14/1

Form: 524321

Last run: 13 days

W: 9st 7lb

4 yo Gelding

OR: 53

Form & Verdict
Finally off the mark in a 0-50 classified event that panned out ideally a fortnight ago; that will have boosted confidence but it came over 1m4f (stays further) and he'll want a good test at 1m2f off his revised mark.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2nd

7

(7)

17th Aug 2022

Good To Firm

1m 4f 104y

Class 6

16:56 Musselburgh

Will He Dance

9st 6lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Keith Dalgleish

in rear, good headway on outer 3f out, ridden and went second over 2f out, switched right inside final furlong, soon hung right, kept on, no match for winner

5/1

5

(1)

1st Aug 2022

Good

1m 2f 0y

Class 6

13:48 Ayr

Will He Dance

9st 7lb

J: Billy Garritty

T: Keith Dalgleish

Finally off the mark in a 0-50 classified event that panned out ideally a fortnight ago; that will have boosted confidence but it came over 1m4f (stays further) and he'll want a good test at 1m2f off his revised mark.

2/1

Non-runners

Will He Dance

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £17.40
Straight Forecast £18.09
Tricast £91.87
Trifecta £90.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

City Of Life

POSTDATA:

Ayr Poet

RP Ratings:

Will He Dance

The Times:

Give Grace

Telegraph:

City Of Life

The Guardian:

City Of Life

Daily Mirror:

City Of Life

The Sun:

City Of Life

Daily Record:

City Of Life

Daily Express:

Will He Dance

Daily Mail:

Ayr Poet

The Star:

Ayr Poet